Senior friendly child resistant closure

ABSTRACT

A child-resistant closure for a container having an externally threaded neck finish includes an assembly of an inner cap and an outer shell. The inner cap includes internal threads for engaging the externally threaded neck finish of the container. The inner cap and outer shell include mutually engageable stops to allow closing rotation of the closure relative to the container and prohibit opening rotation of the closure relative to the container. The inner cap and outer shell also include mating components that, when aligned and engaged, will allow opening rotation of the closure relative to the container when a compressive force is applied to a flexible area on the outer shell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to container closures and, more particularly, to aclosure for use on, for example, a container capable of holding, forexample, liquids, powders and solids including, for example, capsules,caplets, tablets, and gel caps.

Safety or child resistant closures are used to reduce the risk ofchildren accessing and ingesting dangerous or toxic items, includingprescription and non-prescription drugs, pool chemicals and any othercontents of a container that is regulated by the Consumer Product SafetyCommission or U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prior attempts atdesigning and engineering a safety or child resistant closures toprevent access to the contents in a container are either insufficientlychildproof or too difficult for an older adult to open. For example,existing child resistant closures require a simultaneous push down andturn manipulation with one hand holding the container and the other handpushing down on the closure while turning the closure in the unscrewingdirection. Another example requires holding the container in one handand with the other hand squeezing the skirt from the opposite sides andsimultaneously unscrewing the closure from the container. These priorattempts, however, require an interaction between the neck finish of acontainer and a closure where the container may require a lug or somespecial safety feature to interact with the closure. Also, these priorattempts are insufficient for larger diameter bottles because a seniorhas difficulty holding larger bottle, such as a container holding poolchemicals, and push down and turn the top at the same time. Generally,the prior attempts require dexterity and strength for users to open thecontainers, and provide stress on the container itself. There is,therefore, a need for a child resistant closure that is easier forseniors to open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantagesare provided through use of a cap constructed in accordance with one ormore principles of the present invention. The closure constructed inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention may be usedwith any type of container containing, for example, but not limited to,liquids, powders and solids including, for example, capsules, caplets,tablets, and gel caps. Additionally, other uses may be made of theinvention that fall within the scope of the claimed invention but whenare not specifically described below.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure for acontainer having threads and an open end. The closure comprises an innercap and an outer shell. The inner cap includes a top for covering theopen end of the container and a sidewall. The sidewall includes a loweredge portion and extends between the top and the lower edge portion. Thesidewall also includes an outer surface and an inner surface. A portionof the inner surface is threaded. The inner cap is detachably securableto the container by rotational engagement of the threads of thecontainer and the threaded portion of the inner surface of the inner capsidewall. The inner cap resides within the outer shell. The outer shellincludes a sidewall. The outer shell sidewall includes a bendable orflexible area, an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surfacefacing, at least in part, the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.The inner cap and the outer shell include mutually engageable stopspreventing opening rotation of the inner cap relative to the containerwithout compression of the bendable area. When compression is applied tothe bendable area, the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall engageswith the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall to allow openingrotation of said closure relative to the container.

In one embodiment, the mutually engageable stops include a ratchet toothon the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and a ratchet tooth onthe outer surface of the inner cap sidewall. Rotation of the outer shellin one direction relative to the inner cap engages the ratchet tooth onthe inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth onthe outer surface of the inner cap sidewall and rotation of the outershell in an opposite direction relative to the inner cap does not engagethe ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall andthe ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.

In another embodiment, the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall andthe outer surface of the inner cap sidewall include mating components.When the mating components are aligned and engaged by compressionapplied to the flexible or bendable area, the closure is more easilyrotated opened relative to the container than when the mating componentsare not aligned and engaged by compression applied to the flexible orbendable area. In one example, the mating components comprise a dovetailon the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the flexibleof bendable area and a pin notch formed in the outer surface of theinner cap sidewall. In another example, the mating components comprise alug on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite theflexible or bendable area and a notch formed in the outer surface of theinner cap sidewall

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusionof the specification. The foregoing and objects, features, andadvantages of one or more aspects of the invention are apparent from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a closureconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of another embodiment of a closureconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 depicts a longitudinal cross sectional view of the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane A-A showing an example of a childresistant safety feature;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing one example of a childresistant safety feature;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross section view of the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing another version of thechild resistant safety feature illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts an enlarged detailed cross section view of the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 taken along the plane B-B showing anotherversion of the child resistant safety feature illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6;

FIG. 8 depicts a top perspective view of an embodiment of a closureconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention illustrating one example of alignment of alignment indicators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of aclosure designed and constructed in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments,or examples, illustrated in the drawings and specific language will beused to describe these. It will nevertheless be understood that nolimitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Anyalterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, andany further applications of the principles of the invention as describedherein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in theart to which the closure invention relates.

Presented herein is a closure comprising, in one embodiment, multiplefeatures that may be attached to or integrated into the closure to, forexample, prevent access of the contents of a container to a child whilemaking it easier for a senior to operate. Generally, in one aspect, theclosure includes a two piece assembly that mounts onto and closes theopen end of a container having, for example, a threaded raised neckfinish. To ensure that a child cannot simply unscrew the closure fromthe container, opening of the container may require proper orientationand alignment of one or more corresponding features of the closureassembly, as well as, application of pressure to the sides and turningof the closure assembly to disengage by, for example, unscrewing theclosure assembly from the top of the container.

A closure assembly constructed in accordance with one or more aspects ofthe present invention is mounted onto a neck of conventional containerto cover the open end of a container. Container neck may include aseries of external threads which extend around the outer circumferenceof a container neck. Container neck is typically substantiallycylindrical and of unitary construction with the remainder of container.For purposes of this invention, the size and shape of the container,container neck and opening of the container is not critical. A closureconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention can be used on, for example, a large diameter bottle such as,for example, a container holding pool chemicals where conventionalclosures that require a push down and turn procedure for removing theclosure are impractical due to the size of the container.

A closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent invention may be formed in a variety of different sizes andshapes, as illustrated in the examples depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, toaccommodate the container neck and opening. In one embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1, closure 100 may be tall to provide, for example,more surface area for a senior to grip, while moving the activation orsqueeze areas, as described herein, further away from the top of theclosure to keep children from opening with their small hands or usingtheir teeth to open. A closure assembly constructed in accordance withone or more aspects of the present invention may be mounted onto anycontainer capable of holding, for example, liquids, powders and solidsincluding, for example, capsules, caplets, tablets, and gel caps, andalso including prescription and non-prescription drugs, withoutrequiring any safety features or a special neck finish on the containeritself.

In one example, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 depict a closure assembly 100constructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention. Closure assembly 100 includes an inner cap 110 and an outershell 150. Inner cap 110 is concentrically located within outer shell150. Inner cap is retained within outer shell 120 in one embodiment by,for example, a snap bead connection 180. When assembled, inner cap 110and outer shell 150 cooperate with each other in order to achievechild-resistant capabilities.

Referring to FIG. 3, inner cap 110 includes a top 113 with a downwardlyextending side wall 111. Side wall 111 includes an outer peripheralsurface 120 and an inner surface 112. Inner surface 112 of side wall 111of inner cap 110 includes internal threads 114 formed in inner surface112 that, when mounted to a container, engage the externally threadedneck of container in a conventional manner. When proper closed, an upperwall 116 of inner cap 110 seals, abuts against or is in close proximitywith an upper edge forming the opening in a container prohibiting accessto the contents of container.

Outer shell 150 of closure assembly 100 includes a side wall 151 havingan inner surface 152 and an outer surface 154. In one embodiment, outershell 150 is a unitary, molded plastic cap of a substantiallycylindrical shape with an annular top wall 156 completely covering top113 of inner cap 110. In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG.2, a circular center portion of top wall 156 of outer shell 150 is open,leaving an annular ring portion 158 extending radially inwardly fromsidewall 151 of outer shell 150 and over a portion of top 113 of innercap 110.

One of the child resistant features in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention is provided by mutually engageable stops associatedwith inner cap 110 and outer shell 150 preventing counterclockwise oropening rotation of inner cap 110 in relation to container. In oneembodiment providing this feature illustrated in FIG. 4, a ratchet teethengagement is employed including one or more ratchet-like teeth 122protruding radially from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 engaging oneor more ratchet-like teeth 160 protruding radially inward from innersurface 152 of outer shell 150. In one example, closure assemblyincludes a circumferential series of ratchet teeth 122 on outer surface120 that engage a circumferential series of ratchet teeth 160 on innersurface 152 of outer shell 150. Each tooth 122 may include a wedge-likeor triangular shape in the axial direction including an axial wall 124and an inclined ramp portion 126. Each tooth 160 also includes awedge-like shape in the axial direction including an axial wall 162 andan inclined ramp portion 164. The wedge-like shape of each tooth 122 ofinner cap 110 is oriented with inclined ramp portion 126 in the oppositeaxial direction as inclined ramp portion 164 of each tooth 160.

The ratchet tooth engagement embodiment permits free rotation of outershell 150 in one direction in relation to inner cap 110 due to theorientation of ratchet teeth 122 and teeth 160 while causing outer shell150 and inner cap 110 to rotate together in the opposite direction. Forexample, when rotated counter clockwise, the inclined ramp portions 164of teeth 160 skip past or pass over each axial wall 124 of teeth 122 toallow outer shell 150 to rotate and inner cap 110 not to rotate.However, any clockwise rotation of outer shell 150 results in abutmentof the corresponding axial walls 124, 162 of ratchet teeth 122 and 160,respectively, thereby allowing outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 torotate together, and therefore, allowing closure assembly to be rotatedonto a container neck. The orientation of teeth 122 and 160 may also bereversed in other examples where the design permits free clockwiserotation of outer shell 150 in relation to inner cap 110.

In an alternative embodiment, the ratchet-tooth engagement may beemployed with, for example, teeth 160 being formed, instead, as anannular series of receiving wedge-like or triangular depressions beingmolded into inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 for receiving teeth 122of inner cap 110. In this embodiment, the wedge-like depressions wouldbe oriented in the same direction as teeth 122 to permit free rotationof outer shell 150 in the counter clockwise direction in relation toinner cap 110 while rotating outer shell 150 and inner cap 110 togetherwith clockwise rotation. Alternatively, teeth 122 may be molded downinto outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 for receiving teeth 160 of outershell 150.

Another child resistant feature in accordance with another aspect of thepresent invention is provided by another engagement of inner cap 110 andouter shell 150. One example of this aspect is illustrated in FIG. 5. Inaccordance with this aspect of the present invention, closure assembly100 includes one or more squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190, suchas, for example, designated squeeze area 190, on outside surface 154 ofouter shell 150. Designated squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190 onoutside surface 154 of outer shell 150 allow inward compression orpressure by the manual application of inwardly directed compressiveforces or pressure which are substantially 180 degrees apart fromsidewall 151 of outer shell 150. In one embodiment illustrated in FIG.2, squeeze, bendable or flexible areas 190 are partially severed betweena pair of vertical cuts in outer shell sidewall 151. In alternativeembodiments depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7, flexible or bendable areas 190may include a portion of outer shell sidewall where the wall thicknessis thinner than other portions allowing deflection inward uponapplication of pressure or compressive force. When such compressiveforces are applied to designated squeeze areas 190, outer shell 150 andinner cap 110 are permitted to rotate together counterclockwise,superseding the ratchet teeth engagement of outer shell 150 and innercap 110 described above, to remove closure assembly 100 from a containerneck and allow access to the contents of the container.

In one embodiment utilizing this child resistant feature, matingcomponents associated with inner surface 152 of the outer shell sidewalland outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110 may beused to assist a user to more easily rotate closure assembly 100 open inrelation to a container to gain access to the contents of a container.In one example depicted in FIG. 5, outer shell 150 includes at least onelug 170 protruding radially inward from inner surface 152 of outer shell150 opposite the designated squeeze area 190 towards outer surface 120of inner cap 110. In one example, lug(s) 170 are wedge or triangularshaped and each include an axial wall 172, an inclined wall 174 andouter wall 176. However, lugs 170 may be formed in other shapes andsizes. Outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 forms at least onecorresponding notch 180 for receiving lug 170 when an inward compressiveforce or pressure is applied to flexible or bendable area(s) 190. Notch180 formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 includes an axialwall 182, recessed wall 184 and inclined surface 186. In alternativeembodiments, lugs may project from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110and corresponding notches may be formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell150.

When notch 180 and lug 170 are aligned and inward compressive force orpressure is applied to the designated squeezing or flexible or bendableareas 190, lug 170 is received by notch 180 until outer wall 176 of lug170 contacts recessed surface 184 of notch 180 and, if rotatedcounterclockwise, axial wall 172 of lug 170 engages axial wall 182 ofnotch 180. The compressive forces on the designated squeeze areas 190ovalizes the sidewalls of outer shell 150 and, as a result, places thetwo oppositely disposed recessed wall 184 and outer wall 176 in contactor at least close proximity with each other to allow, with frictionalforce in a radial direction between the contacting surfaces to remove,by unscrewing, the closure assembly, e.g. inner cap, from the neck of acontainer.

In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, lug 300 is surrounded by tworecesses 302 formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell 150 and notch 310is formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110.Lug 300 includes axial walls 304 and outer wall 306. Lug 300 is receivedby notch 310 formed in the outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 when lug300 is aligned with notch 310 and the designated squeezing or flexibleor bendable areas 190 are compressed. Notch 310 includes axial walls 312and recessed wall 314. In one embodiment, outer side walls 322 ofrecesses 320 are inclined to prevent outer shell from catching on notch310 during rotation without compression or squeezing. In an alternativeembodiment, lug(s) 300 may project radially outward from inner surface152 of outer shell 150 and include inclined axial walls. While this lugand notch engagement is not ratchet tooth engagement because it is notunidirectional in nature, it is still helpful and lessens to some degreethe extent of compressive forces which are required in order to obtainsufficient frictional contact for inner cap 110 to be removed by thecounterclockwise rotation of outer shell 150.

In yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the mating componentsassociated with inner surface 152 of the outer shell sidewall and outersurface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110 may be a dovetaillock mechanism. In this embodiment, outer shell 150 includes at leastone dovetail 700 protruding radially inward from inner surface 152 ofouter shell 150 opposite the designated squeeze area towards outersurface 120 of peripheral wall 111 of inner cap 110. In one example,dovetail(s) 700 are trapezoidal shaped having outer surfaces 702, angledor sloped outer walls 704, and a space 706 between resilient projections708 that are capable of spreading or flaring outwardly when compressedagainst a surface. Outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 forms at least onecorresponding pin area or notch 710 shaped to receive dovetail 700. Pinarea or notch 710 formed in outer surface 120 of peripheral wall 111includes recessed wall 710 and inclined side surfaces 714 angled toreceive sloped outer walls 704 of dovetail 700. When dovetail 700 isaligned with pin area or notch 710 and an inward compressive force orpressure is applied to designated squeeze or flexible or bendable area190, pin area or notch 710 receives dovetail 700. When outer surfaces702 of dovetail 700 contacts and compresses against recessed wall 712 ofpin area or notch 710, resilient projections 708 of dovetail 700 spreador flare axially outward until angled or slope outer walls 704 ofdovetail 700 engage inclined side surfaces 714 of pin area or notch 710.The engagement of angled or slope outer walls 704 of dovetail 700 withinclined side surfaces 714 of pin area or notch 710 allows a user tomore easily rotate closing assembly 100 open in relation to container200. In one embodiment, dovetail 700 may be recessed into inner surface152 of outer shell 150 with a portion of inner surface 152 also recessedon either side of dovetail 700. In alternative embodiments, dovetail(s)may project from outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and correspondingpin area(s) or notch(es) may be formed in inner wall 152 of outer shell150.

Conventional squeeze or push down and turn closure designs require aninteraction and engagement between the neck finish of a container andthe closure. For example, a conventional push down and turn closuredesign requires a bottle or container be capable of handling thedownward pressure or force on its neck. Also, these conventionalcontainers may require a special lug or some other safety feature beincorporated into the neck finish or on the container itself to interactwith the closure. By incorporating the safety features, such as, forexample, the ratchet-like teeth and/or mating engagements, on outersurface 120 of inner cap 110 and on inner surface 152 of outer shell 150instead of the conventional placement of one series of correspondingratchet-like teeth or lug/notch on the neck finish of a container, thereis no need to require a special neck finish on a container to functionsince squeezing outer shell 150 engages inner cap 120 when removingclosure assembly 100 from the container 200. Accordingly, a closureconstructed in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention may be used or fit on conventional containers that do not haveany special neck finishes or safety features incorporated therein or on.

By incorporating the safety features on outer surface 120 of inner cap110 and on inner surface 152 of outer shell 150 instead of theconventional placement of some safety features on the neck finish of acontainer, a closure constructed in accordance with one or more aspectsof the present invention can be used on thin or soft walled containerswithout risk of collapsing or pressurizing the container by theapplication of compression or downward vertical pressure on thecontainer itself.

Since inner cap 110 is not loosened or opened by simply counterclockwiseturning of outer shell 150, closure assembly 100 constructed inaccordance with aspects of the present invention is madechild-resistant. While there is a way to remove closure assembly 100from a container, e.g. removing inner cap 110 from a container neck byway of outer shell 150 and thereby open container 200, the manualmanipulations which are required to perform this task are not able to beperformed by children. Closure assembly 100 constructed in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present invention also requires limitedstrength to remove the closure, thus making it a better system forseniors. Due in part to hand size limitations and due in part tostrength limitations, the required opening procedures are somethingwhich children cannot normally perform. While the age of the child is aconsideration, the older the child, presumably, the more mature and therisks of improper opening are less.

Closure assembly 100 may be childproof because the application of inwardcompressive force, pressure or squeezing outer shell 150 is required toengage inner cap 110 allowing inner cap 110 to be unscrewed from acontainer. Closure assembly 100 also may include a ratchet mechanismbetween outer surface 120 of inner cap 110 and inner surface 152 ofouter shell 150 for tightening closure assembly 100 onto a containerwhile preventing opening of the same. In operation, a closure assembly100 is installed onto a container by mating and screwing threadedportion 114 on inner surface 112 of inner cap 110 onto a threaded neckfinish of a container. The ratchet tooth mechanism, or alternativeembodiments described herein or known to those of skill in the art,associated with inner surface 154 of outer shell sidewall 152 and outersurface 120 of inner cap sidewall 111 prevent closure assembly frombeing unscrewed from a container. In order to remove closure assembly100 from a container, compressive forces or pressure are applied todesignated squeezing or flexible or bendable areas 190 such that innersurface 154 of the outer shell sidewall 152 engages outer surface 120 ofthe inner cap sidewall 111. In one embodiment, the alignment of lug(s)170 with mating recess(es) 180 or dovetails 710 with mating pin notches710 when inward compressive force or pressure is applied to designatedsqueezing, bendable or flexible area 190 provides assistance in allowinga user to more easily rotate the closure assembly in relation to thecontainer.

A closure assembly 100 constructed in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present invention may also include alignment indicatorsto assist a senior in aligning the mating components discussed above.Examples of some alignment indicators 800 are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2and 8. Alignment indicators 900 provide visual and/or tactile indicationof alignment of mating components associated with the inside surface ofthe outer shell sidewall and the outer surface of the inner cap sidewallillustrated, for example, in FIGS. 5-7. In one embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, inner cap 110 may include an optional flange 900 extendingradially outward from the base of peripheral wall 111 outside of outershell 150. Flange 900 may include one or more indicators of alignment800 such as, for example, a tab or arrow, that aligns with correspondingindicators 800 on the outside of outer shell 150 at the point(s) wherelug(s) 170 is aligned with recess(es) 180, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,or where dovetail 700 aligns with pin notch 710, illustrated in FIG. 7,to alert a user that compressive forces may be applied to designatedflexible or bendable areas 190 in order to remove the closure assemblyfrom a container. In this embodiment, flange 900 should be small enoughto prevent being held by a user to unscrew the closure assembly from thecontainer by surpassing the safety mechanisms.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosuremay include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure for a container having threads and anopen end, said closure comprising: an inner cap, said inner capincluding a top for covering the open end of the container and asidewall, the sidewall including a lower edge portion and extendingbetween the top and the lower edge portion, the sidewall including anouter surface and an inner surface, wherein a portion of the innersurface is threaded, said inner cap being detachably securable to thecontainer by rotational engagement of the threads of the container andthe threaded portion of the inner surface of the inner cap sidewall; anouter shell, said inner cap residing within said outer shell, said outershell including a sidewall, the outer shell sidewall including abendable area, an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surfacefacing, at least in part, the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall,wherein said inner cap and said outer shell include mutually engageablestops preventing opening rotation of said inner cap relative to thecontainer without compression of the bendable area, and whereincompression of the bendable area engages the inner surface of the outershell sidewall with the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall to allowopening rotation of said closure relative to the container.
 2. Theclosure of claim 1, wherein said inner cap is concentrically mounted andretained within said outer shell by a snap bead formed on the innersurface of said outer shell.
 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein saidouter shell includes a lower edge portion and the bendable area is inclose proximity to the lower edge portion of said outer shell.
 4. Theclosure of claim 3, wherein the lower edge portion of said outer shellis radially opposite the lower edge portion of said inner cap.
 5. Theclosure of claim 1, wherein said outer shell includes a top portion,wherein the top portion of said outer shell covers a portion of the topof said inner cap.
 6. The closure of claim 1, wherein said mutuallyengageable stops of said inner cap and said outer shell include aratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and aratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall, whereinrotation of said outer shell in one direction relative to said inner capengages the ratchet tooth on the inner surface of the outer shellsidewall and the ratchet tooth on the outer surface of the inner capsidewall and rotation of said outer shell in an opposite directionrelative to said inner cap does not engage the ratchet tooth on theinner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the ratchet tooth on theouter surface of the inner cap sidewall.
 7. The closure of claim 1,wherein the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and the outersurface of the inner cap sidewall include mating components, whereinwhen the mating components are aligned and engaged by compressionapplied to the bendable area, the closure is more easily rotated openedrelative to the container than when the mating components are notaligned and engaged by compression applied to the bendable area.
 8. Theclosure of claim 1, wherein the mating components comprise a dovetail onthe inner surface of the outer shell sidewall opposite the bendable areaand a pin notch formed in the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall.9. The closure of claim 1, wherein the mating components comprise a lugprojecting from the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall oppositethe bendable area and a notch formed in the outer surface of the innercap sidewall.
 10. The closure of claim 1, wherein a flange extendsradially outward from the inner cap sidewall below the lower edgeportion of the outer shell sidewall, the flange including a firstindicator and a lower edge portion of the outer shell sidewall includinga second indicator, wherein alignment of the first indicator with thesecond indicator provides indication of a location where matingcomponents of the inner surface of the outer shell sidewall and theouter surface of the inner cap sidewall are aligned and engageable whencompression is applied to the bendable area to assist in rotating saidclosure in relation to the container.
 11. A closure for a container,said closure comprising: an inner cap, said inner cap including a topand a sidewall, the sidewall including a lower edge portion andextending between the top and the lower edge portion, the sidewallincluding an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein a portion ofthe inner surface is configured to engage with a container to preventaccess to contents within the container; an outer shell, said inner capresiding within said outer shell, said outer shell including a topportion and a sidewall extending between the top portion and a loweredge portion, the outer shell sidewall including an outer surface and aninner surface, the inner surface facing, at least in part, the outersurface of the inner cap sidewall, wherein said inner cap and said outershell include mutually engageable stops allowing rotation of said innercap relative to said outer shell in one direction and preventingrotation of said inner cap relative to said outer shell in an oppositedirection when compression is not applied to the outer shell sidewallouter surface, and wherein, when compression is applied to the outershell sidewall outer surface, the inner surface of the outer shellsidewall engages with the outer surface of the inner cap sidewall toallow rotation of said inner cap and said outer shell together in theopposite direction.